News from a forein Country came,

As if my Treasures and my Joys lay there;

So much it did my Heart enflame,

'Twas wont to call my Soul into mine Ear;

Which thither went to meet

Th' approaching Sweet,

And on the Threshold stood

To entertain the secret Good;

It hover'd there

As if 'twould leav mine Ear,

And was so eager to embrace

Th' expected Tidings, as they came,

That it could change its dwelling-place

To meet the voice of Fame.

As if new Tidings were the Things

Which did comprise my wished unknown Treasure,

Or els did bear them on their wings,

With so much Joy they came, with so much Pleasure,

My Soul stood at the Gate

To recreäte

It self with Bliss, and woo

Its speedier Approach; a fuller view

It fain would take,

Yet journeys back would make

Unto my Heart, as if 'twould fain

Go out to meet, yet stay within,

Fitting a place to entertain

And bring the Tidings in.

What Sacred Instinct did inspire

My Soul in Childhood with an hope so strong?

What secret Force mov'd my Desire

T' expect my Joys beyond the Seas, so yong?

Felicity I knew

Was out of view;

And being left alone,

I thought all Happiness was gon

From Earth: for this

I long'd-for absent Bliss,

Deeming that sure beyond the Seas,

Or els in somthing near at hand

Which I knew not, since nought did pleas

I knew, my Bliss did stand.

But little did the Infant dream

That all the Treasures of the World were by,

And that himself was so the Cream

And Crown of all which round about did ly.

Yet thus it was! The Gem,

The Diadem,

The Ring enclosing all

That stood upon this Earthen Ball;

The hev'nly Ey,

Much wider than the Sky,

Wherin they All included were;

The Lov, the Soul, that was the King

Made to possess them, did appear

A very little Thing.